Palladium complexes of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phenyl-6-phosphaadamantane: synthesis, crystal structure and use in the Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions and the alpha-arylation of ketones.

Palladium complexes of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phenyl-6-phosphaadamantane were prepared and characterized with Pd[1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phenyl-6-phosphaadamantane](2).dba shown to be an effective catalyst for use in the Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions and the alpha-arylation of ketones. Couplings using this versatile complex proceeded in excellent yields under mild conditions.

Novel class of tertiary phosphine ligands based on a phospha-adamantane framework and use in the Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides under mild conditions.

[reaction: see text] A new class of sterically hindered phosphines based on a phospha-adamantane framework is described. Arylation or alkylation of the 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phospha-adamantane system allows for the preparation of tertiary phosphines suitable for use in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. For example, use of a catalytic system incorporating Pd(2)(dba)(3) and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phenyl-6-phospha-adamantane is shown to promote the Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl iodides, bromides, and activated chlorides with a variety of aryl boronic acids at room temperature in a few hours with high yields.